Earth's Mantle for Dummies

Layers of the Earth

Ever see a blog post or other content in which the whole doesn't equal the sum of the parts? You know, an explanation that leaves out critical facts or directions that omit important steps? Well, we see them all the time: and these deficiencies, at least to us here at the Antisocial Network, say we've found another writer who is talking through his or her metaphorical hat. Such a writer is eHow.com contributor Kelsey Childress, and for a sample of this style of "writing" (in reality, simple transcription of random factoids) we submit the following article she posted to the mother site (now appearing at Sciencing.com) that supposedly explains "What Does the Mantle of Earth Consist Of?" Well, it kind of does; but it mostly doesn't.

Kelsey's sources aren't cited, but the one she did use must have been some sort of "the Earth for pre-schoolers" book. Where she cites facts, they're generally accurate, though disturbingly simplistic, e.g.,

"The mantle consists of many minerals (metals) and basic elements, which include iron, magnesium, aluminum, and silicon..."

We're pretty sure a "mineral" isn't the same thing as a "metal," Kelsey, and all those basic elements are contained within the minerals you mentioned. Though she gets some of it right-ish, most of what she says is misleading, if not downright stupid:

"The layer that surrounds the core or center of the earth is called the mantle. The layer above it is the crust. The layer about that is then the atmosphere, the layer that is habitable by human life. The crust is the dirt just beneath the surface.

At least she got the layers in the right order, but saying "The crust is the dirt just beneath the surface"? That's utter bull. Kelsey goes on to tell her readers rubbish like:

"The high pressure of the gas and elements in the mantle make most of it a hard solid." No, Ms Childress, the solid portion of the mantle (the lithosphere) is solid because it's made of... solids. "The Asthenosphere is the hard liquid part of the mantle. The Lithosphere is a stiff part of the outer mantle and crust." Just FYI, you don't capitalize those words. And we would really, really, really like to know what a "hard liquid" is.  Ever heard of the word "plasticity"? We didn't think so... "The mantle is what creates volcanoes, earthquakes and the shifting of the tectonic plates just below the earth's surface. This is what causes continents to slowly shift throughout history." Just a quibble: you meant "through time," didn't you, Kelsey? Oh, and while we're at it, just how does the mantle "[create] volcanoes, earthquakes and the shifting of the tectonic plates..."? BTW, the tectonic plates aren't "just below the surface," they are the surface. Dumbass.

This is just one more of the thousands of self-appointed English and journalism majors making a total mess of very simple science on freelance sites. With junk like this on the web, it's no wonder our kids (and too many adults) are scientifically illiterate! For this contribution to the stupidification of the internet and of the surfing public, Kelsey Childress is today's Dumbass of the Day.

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